Device or attachment for lifting boxes and the like



Patented Mar. 23, 1943 lJEVICEi OR ATTACHMENT FOR LIFTING BOXES AND THE LIKE William E. Korner, Gary, Ind., assignor to Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corporation, a

of New Jersey 11 Claims.

.This invention relates to devices for liftin boxes and the like and, particularly, to an im- 'proved box lifting device 01 attachment designed especially for use with tractors and the like.

[In the steel industry, it is the practice to pack sheet material, such as tin plate, stainless steel, and the like, in flat boxes for shipment. Such boxes, when packed, are extremely heavy and .diiiicult to handle. Heretofore, it has been the practice to load such heavy boxes on freight cars and to transport the same from one place to another in the plant by means of an overhead crane, which was dangerous if the boxes were not properly gripped and supported. Oftentimes such boxes were loaded on freight cars for shipm'ent by hand, which was tedious and usually consumed a great amount of time.

In the present invention there is provided a device for lifting such boxes which may be conveniently attached to the lift carriage of a tractor or so designed as to be used with an overhead crane whereby all of the above named disadvantages have been eliminated.

Accordingly, it is the general object of the present invention to provide an improved device or attachment for use with tractors and similar transporting equipment for lifting boxes and the like which is simple and inexpensive in its construction and, at the same time, a box lifting device which is safe and convenient in its use whereby the loading time is reduced to a minimum.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved device or attachment for lifting boxes and the like which can be used with existing transporting equipment, and a device which can be easily and quickly attached thereto. It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved devic or attachment for lifting boxes and the like which can be quickly and conveniently adjusted so that it can be used for lifting various size boxes.

Q Various other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent during the course of the following specification and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims. In the accompanying drawing there is shown,

"for the purpose of illustration, one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In this drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved box lifting device or attachment of my invention, showing the same incorporated with a tractor;

"Figure 2 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is an endview ofF'i-gure 1;

corporation Application December 20, 1941, Serial No. 423,834

Figure 4 is an end view similar to Figure 3, showing my improved box lifting device supporting a box; and I Figure 5 is a perspective view showing one of the hook-like members for supporting the box at the bottom side thereof.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the improved box lifting device or attachment of my invention comprises a frame member 2 consisting preferably of a longitudinally extending cantilever I-beam member 3. The I-beam member 3 is supported at the inner end thereof preferably by means of an I-beam member4 extending substantially perpendicular thereto with the ends thereof being welded together as at 5. There is disposed on the inner side of the I-beam member 4, adjacent the top thereof and directly 0pposite the end of the I-beam member 3, preferably a plate-like member ii having holes '1 arranged therethrough to either side of the beam 4. On the lower end of the I'-beam member 4 there is arranged, preferably, a pair of inwardly extending plate-like members 8 with one disposed on each side of th beam 4. The platelike members 8 preferably have aligned holesB arranged therethrough for the purpose ofv receiving a bolt or tractor rod it carried by the lifting carriage [2 of the tractor to which the device or attachment of my invention is adapted to be connected. The holes 1 arranged in the plate-like member 6 at the top of the device are for the purpose of receiving bolts l3 for securely attaching the top portion of the frame membe 2 to the lifting carriage i2.

On top of the I-beam member 3 there i positioned preferably an I-beam or structural member M which is arranged substantially vertically to the I-beam member 3 and there is preferably arranged on the inner side thereof a triangularshaped plate-like member !5 for reenforcing the same. On the top end of the beam member l4 there is securely disposed preferably a sleevelike member It through which a longitudinally extending adjusting belt or rod Ii extends having a nut l8 arranged on the inner end thereof beyond the sleeve-like member 15. The outer end of the bolt or rod H is connected to the outer end of the I-beam member 3 as at l9 for the purpose of aiding in the support of the same.

On one side of the I-beam member 3 there is arranged preferably a pair of spaced apart downwardly extending plate-like members 29 which are securely welded to the side of the beam. On the opposite side of the'beam 3 there is disposed a pair of spaced apart downwardly extending to the side of the box.

next to the plate-like members 20.

. riage l2 of the tractor.

On the lower ends of each of the chains 2! there.

is disposed a hook-like member 24 preferably having a handle portion 25 arranged therewith. The hook-like members 24 preferably have a flange or are notched on the end thereof as at 26;

so as to prevent the hook-like members from slipping from position in under the box to be lifted. It will be understood that the frame member is preferably of a welded construction, that is, all the parts are welded together. to form the frame.

The device of my invention is used in the following manner. The frame member is f rst at tached to the particular piece of equipment with which it is adapted to be used. If the device or attachment is to be used with a, tractor, the frame member 2 is bolted to the lifting carriage l2 of the tractor by means of the bolts l and I3, as shown 'in Figure l of the drawing. The tractor, together with the box lifting attachment of the present invention, is then moved to position oppositethe box to be lifted. The box to be lifted is then .turned on edge and the tractor moved forwardly so that the plate-like members lie directly next The box is then tilted so that the top portion of the box will lie directly The chains 2| are then adjusted as to length so as to'correspend with the width or height of the box to be lifted by inserting the proper link of each of the chains in the corresponding slot 23 of the lugs22 'so as to provide chains of the proper length. The

hook-like members 24 on the lower end of the chains 2| are then positioned under the box on the side opposite'that from the plate-like members 20 by means of handles 25 carried thereby.

The box is then ready to be lifted and the same is moved upwardly by the upward movement of the frame member 2 by means of the lifting car- It will thus be seen that the top portion of the box is prevented from moving outwardly in one direction, due to the platelike members 20, and in the'opposite direction,

due to the upper portions of the chains 2|, and

the lower portion of the box is supported by the hook-like members 25 on the lower ends of the chains 2 I Where it is desired to unload .or deposit the box in any particular place, the lifting carriage of the tractor is lowered, together with the frame member 2 carried thereby. After the box has been lowered to position on a supportingsurface,

it will be seen that the hook-like membersflare free and can be moved out from in under the box by means of the handles 25 arranged therewith.

As a result of my invention, it will be seen that there is provided a box lifting device or attachment which can be safely and conveniently used to transport boxes and the like from one point to anothed. It will be seen that a heavy box can be easily and quickly loaded or transported from one point to another by two men, that is, on man operating the tractor, and the other man operating the loading device, which is a decided advantage.

It will be understood that the improved box lifting device or attachment of my invention may be used with an overhead crane or other transportation equipment, as well as a tractor, as disclosed herein.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that this embodiment is merely for the purpose of illustration and description and that various other forms may be devised within the scope of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I, claim:

1. A device of the class described for lifting boxes and the like comprising a frame member, downwardly extending, substantially rigid means carried by said frame member which is stationary relative thereto against which one side of the .top portion of the box or article to be lifted is adapted to lie and which is adapted to be disposed to one side of the box or article, means suspended from said frame member which extends a substantial distance below said firstmentioned means and which is adapted tobe disposed on the side of the box or article opposite that from said first mentioned means at a spaced distance therefrom, and means carried by said last mentioned means which is adapted to extend in under the bottom of the box or article on that side thereof to support the same, said first mentioned means adapted to prevent the box or article from tipping and said second mentioned means adapted to support the same at the bottom thereof. f

2. A device of the class described for lifting boxes and the like comprising a frame member,

' downwardly extending, substantially rigid means carried by said frame member which is stationary relative thereto against which the outer side of the top portion of the box or article to be lifted is adapted to lie and which is adapted to be disposed to one side of the box or article, means suspended from said frame member which e'xtends a substantial distance below said first mentioned means and which is adapted tobe disposed on the side of the box or article opposite that from said first mentioned means at a spaced 'dis tance therefrom, said last mentioned means being arranged for pivotal movement relative to said frame member and said first mentioned means, and means carried by said last mentioned 'means which is adapted to extend in under't'he bottom of the box or article on that side thereof to support the same, said first mentioned means adapted to prevent the box or article from'tipping and said second mentioned means adapted to support the same at the bottom thereof...

3. A device of the class describedfor lifting boxes and the like comprising a frame member,

. downwardly extending, substantially rigid means carried by said frame member which is stationary relative thereto against .whichone side of the top portion of the box or article to be. lifted-is adapted to lie and which isadapted to be-disposed to one side of the box or article, means suspended from said frame member which extends a substantial distance below said first mentioned means and which is adapted to be disposed on the side of the box or article-opposite that from said first mentioned means at a spaced distance therefrom, a hook-like-portion arranged on the lower endof said last mentioned means and which is adapted to extend in under the bottom of the box or article on that iside thereof to support the same, said first'mentioned means adapted to prevent the box or -article from tipping and said last mentioned means together with said hook-like portion carried thereby adapted to support the same at the bottom thereof.

4. A device of the class described for lifting boxes and the like comprising a frame member, downwardly extending, substantially rigid means carried by said frame member against which one side of the top portion of the box or article to be lifted is adapted to lie with said means adapted to be disposed to one side of the box or article, at least a pair of spaced apart members suspended from said frame member which extend a substantial distance below said downwardly extending means and which is adapted to be disposed on the side of the box or article opposite that from said first mentioned means at a spaced distance therefrom, said suspended members being movable relative to said frame member and said first mentioned means, and a hooklike portion carried by each of said suspended members adjacent the bottom thereof which are adapted to extend in under the box or article to support the same, said downwardly extending means adapted to prevent the box or article from tipping and said suspended members together with said hook-like portion carried thereby adapted to support the same at the bottom thereof.

5. A device of the class described for lifting boxes and the like as defined in claim 4, including means for adjusting the length of each of said suspended members whereby the same may be lengthened or shortened in order to lift various size boxes or articles.

6. A device of the class described for lifting boxes and the like comprising a frame member, downwardly extending, substantially rigid means carried by said frame member against which one side of the top portion .of the box or article to be lifted is adapted to lie and which is adapted to be disposed to one side of the box or article, at least a pair of spaced apart flexible members suspended from said frame member which extend a substantial distance below said downwardly extending means and which are adapted to be dis posed on the side of the box or article opposite that from said first mentioned means at a spaced distance therefrom, and a hook-like member carried by each of said flexible members adjacent the lower end thereof which is adapted to extend in under the box or article to support the same, said first mentioned means adapted to prevent the box or article from tipping and said second fiexible means together with the hook-like member carried thereby adapted to support the same at the bottom thereof.

7. A device of the class described for lifting boxes and the like as defined in claim 6, including means for adjusting the length of each of the suspended flexible members whereby the same may be lengthened or shortened in order to lift various size boxes or articles.

8. A device of the class described for lifting boxes and the like comprising a frame member, at least a pair of spaced apart relatively short, downwardly extending, substantially rigid members arranged on one side of said frame member which are adapted to be disposed to one side of the box or article to be lifted, at least a pair of relatively long members suspended from and arranged on the opposite side of said frame which extend a substantial distance below said first mentioned members and which are adapted to be disposed on the side of the box or article opposite that from said first mentioned members at a spaced distance therefrom, and a hook-like portion arranged on the lower end of each of said suspended members which is adapted to extend in under the bottom of the box or article to support the same, said first mentioned members adapted to prevent the box or article from tipping and said suspended members adapted to support the same at the bottom thereof.

9. A device of the class described for lifting boxes and the like comprising a fram member, at least a pair of spaced apart downwardly extending, substantially rigid members arranged on one side of said frame member which are adapted to be disposed to one side of the box or article to be lifted, at least a pair of flexible members suspended from and arranged on the opposite side of said frame which are adapted to be disposed on the side of the box or article opposite that from said first mentioned members at a spaced distance therefrom, and ahook-like portion arranged on the lower end of each of said flexible members which is adapted to extend in under the bottom of the box or article to support the same, said first mentioned members adapted to prevent the box or article from tipping and said flexible members adapted to support the same at the bottom thereof.

10. A device of the class described for lifting boxes and the like as defined in claim 9 wherein each of the suspended flexible members consists of a chain suspended from the frame.

11. A device of the class described for lifting boxes and the like as defined in claim 9, including means for adjusting the length of the flexible members whereby the same may be lengthened or shortened in order to lift various size boxes or articles.

WILLIAM E. KORNER. 

